The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Microsoft's new console, the Xbox One, sold more than one million consoles within 24 hours of its release. It sold out in most of the countries that were selling it. Many people waited outside stores all night to buy it. Microsoft said it was the best console they have made and was happy with the sales. It said: "Seeing thousands of excited fans…get their Xbox One and their love for gaming was truly a special moment for everyone on the Xbox team." Microsoft said it would work hard to make more Xbox One consoles for this season's holiday presents.

Many Xbox One customers were disappointed. They saw error messages after they switched the machine on. An update made the machine "brick". This is a gaming word, which means to become useless. Microsoft explained what users needed to do. It said if a machine freezes for more than 10 minutes, people should contact customer support. Someone will help the user to get the console working again. Microsoft must work quickly because its big rival Sony is selling the PlayStation 4. It is $80 cheaper than the Xbox One. Gamers are calling the PlayStation a "pure gaming machine".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1172702/xbox-one-million-consoles-sold-in-24-hours
  • http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/22/xbox-one-microsoft-websites-problems-launch


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)



The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

within 24 hours

a.

moment

2.

It sold

b.

of its release

3.

happy with

c.

to make more

4.

thousands of

d.

out

5.

their love

e.

excited fans

6.

truly a special

f.

holiday presents

7.

it would work hard

g.

for gaming

8.

this season's

h.

the sales


MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

customers were

a.

needed to do

2.

error

b.

disappointed

3.

This is a gaming word, which

c.

rival Sony

4.

Microsoft explained what users

d.

gaming machine

5.

if a machine freezes

e.

messages

6.

people should contact

f.

means to become useless

7.

its big

g.

customer support

8.

a pure

h.

for more than 10 minutes

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Microsoft's (1) ___________________, the Xbox One, sold more than one million consoles (2) ___________________ of its release. It sold (3) ___________________ the countries that were selling it. Many people waited outside stores all night to buy it. Microsoft said it was the best console (4) ___________________ and was happy with the sales. It said: "Seeing thousands of excited fans…get their Xbox One and their (5) ___________________ was truly a special moment for everyone on the Xbox team." Microsoft said it would work hard to make more Xbox One (6) ___________________ season's holiday presents.

Many Xbox One customers were disappointed. They saw error messages after (7) ___________________ machine on. An update made the machine "brick". This (8) ___________________, which means to become useless. Microsoft explained what users needed to do. It said if a machine (9) ___________________ than 10 minutes, people should (10) ___________________.  Someone will help the user to get the console working again. Microsoft must work quickly (11) ___________________ Sony is selling the PlayStation 4. It is $80 cheaper than the Xbox One. Gamers are calling the PlayStation a " (12) ___________________".

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Microsoft'snewconsole,theXboxOne,soldmorethanonemillioncons
oleswithin24hoursofitsrelease.Itsoldoutinmostofthecountriesthat
weresellingit.Manypeoplewaitedoutsidestoresallnighttobuyit.Micr
osoftsaiditwasthebestconsoletheyhavemadeandwashappywiththe
sales.Itsaid:"Seeingthousandsofexcitedfans…gettheirXboxOnean
dtheirloveforgamingwastrulyaspecialmomentforeveryoneontheXb
oxteam."MicrosoftsaiditwouldworkhardtomakemoreXboxOnecons
olesforthisseason'sholidaypresents.ManyXboxOnecustomerswere
disappointed.Theysawerrormessagesaftertheyswitchedthemachin
eon.Anupdatemadethemachine"brick".Thisisagamingword,which
meanstobecomeuseless.Microsoftexplainedwhatusersneededtodo
.Itsaidifamachinefreezesformorethan10minutes,peopleshouldcon
tactcustomersupport.Someonewillhelptheusertogettheconsolewor
kingagain.MicrosoftmustworkquicklybecauseitsbigrivalSonyisselli
ngthePlayStation4.Itis$80cheaperthantheXboxOne.Gamersarecal
lingthePlayStationa"puregamingmachine".

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about games consoles for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You